Attitude of Gratitude

Before I begin my witterings today, can I just quickly say a huge big thank you to each and every one of you who took the trouble to comment on my Routine post. Your words of support, encouragement, wisdom and empathy made a huge impact, you buoyed me up and made me feel that I am doing pretty OK in the big scheme of things. And that most importantly you understand where I'm coming from.

I have to tell you I am on such a roll with stuff this week, everything feels marvelously tickety-boo in the Attic. Yippee for tickety-boo-ness!!!! I've been feeling very inspired to make some changes to the way things bob along round here, I think you could say that I've experienced a little teeny-tiny, itsy-bitsy sort of an Epiphany. I don't want to scare you, but I confess that this week I've actually been having FUN doing the housework, holy cr*p it's honestly true!!

In brief, this is what I've done.............

• made a schedule and written it down in a (newly purchased) diary (a Good Thing)
• actually kept to the schedule (a VERY Good Thing)
• tackled just a small, specific area of a room each day (1 hr max)
• eliminated the words work, jobs, chores from my mind (a Positive Thing)
• replaced the above words with love, happiness, gratitude (a VERY Positive Thing)

Do you see the shift in attitude?? Do you see me refusing to Tackle Chores and choosing instead to Love my Home? Does it seem good?? Happy?? Positive?? An Attitude of Gratitude?? Yessss!!!!

The other BIG mental shift I've had is to do with balancing out that one hour a day home-lovin' time with my other responsibilities, namely childcare. So rather than trying to contain/entertain Little B in order for me to go off and Do My Jobs (which never worked out), I've simply decided to involve him instead. Let him help me, make it a fun time for us both.

This week, in accordance with the FlyLady Zones we've been in the bathroom and also his bedroom. We've cleaned the bathroom together (it was already tidy), he is a whizz with a cloth. That boy love love lOVEs to Swish n Swipe, see him go!!!! His little hands are a blurrrrrr!!!

The job in my diary for yesterday was to tackle the mountainous mess of toys that had accumulated downstairs. I delegated the Tipping Out of The Basket job to Little B and he took on the task with great pleasure. I pulled out all toys/objects that weren't supposed to be there, packed away the outgrown toys and threw out all the broken toys and misc. rubbish. Then Little B re-packed his own toy basket. We went on to have a similar sort out of toys and clothes in his bedroom.

I've found the best time for s spot of home-loving is between 2 and 3pm, it's that lull after lunch/nap time and before the school run. It means that I have a definite ending point to the task in hand cos at 3pm I have to be out the door and on my way to school, no matter what. Having that time limit imposed on the proceedings makes all the difference, it really does. It's only One Hour. I can do one hour, it's not so hard. So far it's working a treat, and I couldn't be happier.

With all this feel-good happening in the house, I've been re-appreciating all that I have and re-confirming the things that I love about my home. Pottering around in my humble little kitchen, snipping stems from my market dahlias....

....arranging them in my delicious rainbow jug and experiencing that familiar rush of joy. My home will hopefully always be full of love, colour and creativity.

I baked buns yesterday too, can't quite remember what time of day it was, after lunch I think.

Yes, that's right I remember now...it was after lunch when Little B was fast asleep on the sofa. I had the radio on and enjoyed the warmth from the oven (it was cold and wet here yesterday).

I decided to save the bowl for Little B so that he could lick out the bun mixture when he woke up. He couldn't honestly believe his luck (this was a first time experience for him), it was soooo sweet watching him. He used his finger for the first few licks with lots of smiles and mmmmmmmmmm noises. Then both hands went in and his whole face became one big, happy, sticky mess with a wide grin running across it.

So that's about where I'm at.......I think I might possibly have some more to say about this whole subject of Gratitude, about being thankful for what one has, about keeping house, about balancing time and creating routines. About learning to love all aspects of home-making, not just the juicy yarn infested bits or the scrummy baking bits or the delicious baby bits or the sweet little prettifying bits.

But do you know what? Right now I'm finding my brain is too tired to write and my bed is a calling. So I shall love you and leave you for now, but may come back to the end of this paragraph to add on a thoughtful Extra Bit tomorrow. Thanks for reading, hope my words aren't too waffly. xxxxxxxxxxxx ((mwah)) xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Edit to add ::

A few extra things to mention.............

1. Just to reassure you here, I'm not aiming for an immaculate home, nor a show home, nor a magazine-shoot home. I'm aiming for a slightly more orderly version of what I've already created. I love the lived-in look, I love having many, many objects around the place. But I'm also a little tired of the the tedium surrounding the searching-for-objects-that-are-in-the-piles-somewhere, and the huge piles constantly falling over and needing restacking/balancing.

2. I'm using the Flylady's regime as a gentle starting point only, taking from it the elements that work for me rather than embracing it in it's entirety. I've not signed up to the email reminders as I know this would irritate the hell out of me. I'm also not into making Control Journals, nor taking on the (frankly quite scary) deep cleaning tasks. I also like to wear my worn out old crocs about the place so will not be lacing any shoes.

3. I've been delving a little into this book which you can sneaky-peek into on Amazon....the writing is inspiring and oh-so-true! I particularly LOVE the list on page 6 (go read!!), it made me laugh out loud and nod vigorously! I came to discover this book via Ali's beautifully written post on this very same subject, thank you Ali xx.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[One-oh-four]

You should hire Little B out for swishing and swiping duties! Lots to keep him entertained at my house.....

Love the picture of him licking the bowl out too - my how his feet have grown!

[Joaninha]

Thank you for the reminder!!!! I have been having some trouble remembering that keeping my home a peaceful, tidy(ish) place is a way to love my family... It is all soooooo tiring (the tidying away, after two boisterous boys are done with the place), even though I know that I always feel better with a tidy house! Anyway, just wanted to let you know that we had a glorious day of sunshine today, on the other side of the Penines, and that your post has just prolonged my susnshiney day:) Thank you, once more! xxxx

[Jennifer sew little]

Love housework, ok i will give it a go!!!!!!! I have to say you make it sound fun!

[Wendy]

Your posts are full of inspiration! I am finding it a lot easier to tidy up now my kids are back at school, otherwise the task is like pushing water uphill. My worst 'love' is dusting, after 16 years of keeping house I continue to be amazed at how quickly dust reappears.

[Liz Noonan]

I love your positive attitude, it is so inspiring; long may it continue.

[Peg Leg Clegg]

You are so right to call it an epiphany and once you have got everything just how you want it, it will just be about maintenance. Keep up the good (house)work. Bx

[Jennifer]

You've got it!!! When we look at our chores with gratitude for the fact that we have a home to clean and clothes to launder and toys to tidy... well, I believe it changes everything. I believe it was the FlyLady who suggests that we think of our cleaning, scrubbing, tidying, etc. as "blessing" our home. I have loved that idea from the first moment I read it years ago. Good for you on the attitude of gratitude shift. You're happiness can only grow! xxxxxxxx

[Linda Gilbert]

That is one of the thoughts advocated in Reiki-- Living with an attitude of gratitude! It really is brilliant and helps keep me on track most of the time. I am loving looking at Little B's antics as our first Grandson is due at Christmas -- so exciting times!

[Sassybelle]

I know exactly where you're coming from as I have been trying to appreciate what I have a whole lot more too, instead of the negative feelings creeping in. I have done some reading, and I'm assured this route of more positive thinking really can change our experiences, and therefore, our whole attitude to life.....and you know what, when I remember to keep the positive attitude of gratitude going, I've found things really do change for the better! But sometimes I just get a bit bogged down and forget, so thanks for the gentle reminder....I really needed it -xx-

[Karen]

A few years back I went through pretty much where you are at the moment and found the FlyLady a real inspiration. I still stick to some of her tips like have shoes on so you mean business instead of slippers and go round with a bag and throw out 25 (i think) things lying about etc. What I also found useful is setting 10 minutes at a time to tackle quick jobs that usually get put off slotted in amongst other things i'm doing as a break. For example if i'm sitting writing an article or catching up on filing then after say 30 minutes I need a leg stretch, i'll go put on some laundry or clean the kitchen counter tops or wipe down bedroom doors and handles etc.

[San]

As always I love your posts and your house of colour makes me smile!

Hugs San x

[Karen B]

Thank you for this timely reminder about "loving our home." I have had the tidy/clean/organize urge a bit lately but some things I look at and say, "ugh" to - but if I too will adopt the attitude of gratitude and choose to look at it as loving my home I bet the tasks will go a lot more easily!

[Rainy Day Crafter]

I love your Gratitude Attitude! It's such a wonderful way of looking at it and your post has really inspired me adjust how I think about things! :) You're very lucky to have a little helper though, hehe - looks like he's having a lot of fun! ;)

[Liz]

My small person (now 19) always used to help me with housework to make it fun. Such a shame she now thinks housework is totally for mugs!!!!! Needless to say when she's home from uni, you can't see any floor at all in her bedroom!

[Claire Mackaness]

please send the dust of your ephiphany this way. I have a four year old who started school Monday and a new baby at home and I feel like I am juggling five hundred balls right now and nothing seems to be getting done.

[Liz]

Housework yuck!!! I live in organised chaos that requires a good sort out every so often. But it's clean - have you watched 'How clean is your house?' and most importantly it's home. That's the main thing to remember - it's our home and we love it!! So what if the windows need cleaning outside. I want time together not cleaning!!

I do little bits before/after work - depending on shifts and blitz the house once a week on my day off. Of course it's back to square one the next day!!

[Michael]

I too should adopt a more positive attitude toward keeping the house tidy. I'll try to follow your lead and think of it less as work/chores, more as an expression of gratitude and love for our home. :o)

[Nellie Dean]

What a wonderful post. It almost inspires me to tackle the housework. Almost! ;-)

[Jill]

Hi Lucy.. what a brilliant post! Now when I am stomping round the house trying to motivate myself to get things 'done', I shall think of it in a totally different light.... Love those sticky fingers photos :)x

[Silke]

Oooo, you are totally inspiring me!! I've done ok this week, but have been more creative than tidying around the house. What I really need to do is give most of the rooms a deep clean, something to do a little at a time. Thank goodness for the FlyLady!! :)

Love your attitude shift and must implement that myself!! And I could use a bowl of leftover bun batter just about now...

Hugs! Silke

[Sarah west mids uk]

Dear Lucy I started this sort of cleaning come tidying up routine a few weeks ago and it does work. Instead of thinking of the hundred and one things that need to be done I tackle one job and or even part of one and so far so good. Always enjoy your posts.xx

[Helen]

Hearing you talk about Little B getting into the bowl and muck going everywhere reminded me of dinner last night with my 2 1/2 year old. I had made spaghetti with a tomato, onion and bacon sauce. Dinner was mostly eaten with the fingers which I expected. What I didn't expect was that after the bowl was mostly empty Little Miss B took great handfuls of tomato and onion sauce (there wasn't any bacon left by then!) and rubbed it all over her face and in her hair. She had a wonderful time, but it did mean an unscheduled bath before bed!
xXx Helen

[DebbyMc]

OHMYGOSH! I love that rainbow teapot! You are doing a great, great job =-) Your home looks so comfy and nurturing, and I can hear the caring in your "voice.". I would love to take a nap under that blanket on the sofa, just like little B =-)

[Robin]

Hi Lucy, We inspired you and now you are inspiring us. Loved your post and your words on love, family, gratitude, lack of words like job, chores and replacing them with joy, and appreciating what we have. It's so easy to forget and think we need more and more. I'm guilty of that and try to remind myself often. Fall is almost here now, so I am starting to nest! Not a bad thing..........A GOOD THING!
xoRobin❤

[Marian]

Thank you so much for taking the time to be an inspiration for us! I love your removing work/chore words and substituting love and gratitude. Sure is much easier to love our home than clean our house :-) Can't believe how big little B is getting too!